Evolution / Genetics

113 ancient 'urn burials' discovered in central China

A total of 113 tombs with burial urns dating back to the period of the Warring States (475 – 221 BC) have been discovered in the city of Huanghua since May.

Archaeologists work at the ancient tomb site in Huanghua City, north China's Hebei Province [Credit: Xinhua/Yang Shiyao]

Archaeologists from the Hebei Cultural Relics Institute and Huanghua Museum have unearthed 107 tombs with burial urns for children, as well as six for adults at the site. In every tomb pit, two or three pieces of pottery urns or basins contain the remains of dead bodies.

A total of 113 tombs, estimated to be more than 2,000 years old, have been discovered in Hebei, according to archaeologists [Credit: Xinhua/Yang Shiyao]

"What we are excavating now is just a portion of the burial urns. More tombs have been discovered 150 meters south of the excavation site, so there could be more tombs for adults there," said Zhang Baogang, curator of Huanghua Museum.

The tombs, all of the urn burial type, are part of the Fudi city ruins in Huanghua. According to Zhang Baogang,the head of the Huanghua Museum, only part of the tomb site had been excavated and more adult remains could be discovered [Credit: Xinhua/Yang Shiyao]

According to Bai Yunxiang, vice director of Institute of Archaeology under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the recently discovered tombs are key clues in the study of burial customs 2,000 years ago.

The tombs are located in the remains of Fudicheng in northwestern Huanghua. According to historical records, Fudicheng served as a fortress in ancient times. Local historians believe that the tombs belonged to the city, and the discovery of so many children's tombs reflects the prosperity of the city. The discovery also raises doubts about whether the city functioned purely as a military fortress.